Fuchsia Plant Named &#39;KLEFU14838&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Fuchsia  plant particularly distinguished by having a compact, upright plant habit with small flowers, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Fuchsia sp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEFU14838’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Fuchsia,botanically known as Fuchsia sp. and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEFU14838’. ‘KLEFU14838’ is a selection from a controlledcross-pollination of the proprietary female Fuchsia line‘2010.5’(unpatented) and the proprietary male Fuchsia line‘2010.11’(unpatented).

In March of 2011, the proprietary female Fuchsia line ‘2010.5’ and theproprietary male Fuchsia line ‘2010.11’ were cross pollinated inStuttgart, Germany and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown andplants were grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in March2012 in Stuttgart, Germany and named ‘KLEFU14838’. In March 2012,‘KLEFU14838’ was first vegetatively propagated by in Stuttgart, Germanyvia vegetative cuttings. ‘KLEFU14838’ was found to reproduce true totype in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetativecuttings in Stuttgart, Germany.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Compact, upright plant habit; and

2. Small flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Fuchsia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph,which shows a close-up of the flower of the plant. The plant is about 3months-old grown in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2014. The colors shown areas true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEFU14838’. The data, which define thesecharacteristics, were collected from asexual reproductions carried outin Latina, Italy. Data was collected on 2.5 to 3 month-old plants inLatina, Italy in June 2015. Color references are to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th)edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Onagraceae.        -   Classification.—Fuchsia sp.        -   Common name.—Fuchsia.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 1 to 2 weeks at 20° C.            to 25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 2 weeks at            temperatures of 18° C. to 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—3 to 4 weeks            at temperatures of 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—4 weeks at            temperatures of 18° C. to 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, yellowish-white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Compact, upright plant habit.        -   Growth habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral branches            developing potentially at every node; bushy plant habit;            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—20.0 cm to 22.0 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—25.0 cm to 28.0 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 15.0 cm to 18.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 2.0 mm.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to semi-upright, compact.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to RHS 146B lightly tinted with close to RHS            187A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—2.8 cm to 3.8 cm.        -   Width.—1.4 cm to 1.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse and rounded.        -   Margin.—Shallowly serrate.        -   Texture.—Upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: Close to RHS 146B,            occasionally lightly tinted with close to RHS 183A Lower            surface: Close to RHS 147B, occasionally lightly tinted with            close to RHS 183A.        -   Color.—Developing leaves: Upper surface: Close to RHS N137C            Lower surface: Close to RHS 137B Fully expanded leaves:            Upper surface: Close to RHS N137A Lower surface: Close to            RHS 147A.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.8 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous. Upper surface: Smooth, glabrous,            concave Lower surface: Smooth, glabrous, convex.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Close to RHS 146B, occasionally            lightly tinted with close to RHS 183A Lower surface: Close            to RHS 147B, occasionally lightly tinted with close to RHS            183A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single axillary flowers;            flowers pendulous; freely flowering habit with potentially            two flowers per leaf axil.        -   Total number of flowers per plant.—Over 40 fully open            flowers and 80 buds on a mature plant when at flowering            stage.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; in Europe,            plants flower from early spring to autumn; flowering            continuous during this period.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about four to six days on the            plant.        -   Flower diameter.—0.9 cm (petals), 5.1 cm (sepals).        -   Flower height (depth).—Approximately 4.8 cm (base of sepals            to stigma tip).        -   Flower buds.—Shape: Elliptic Length: Approximately 2.7 cm            Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm Color: RHS 45A.-   Petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Typically four in a single whorl.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.8 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, all surfaces Upper and lower surface:            Smooth, glabrous; satiny.        -   Color.—Upper (outside) surface: When opening: RHS N83A Fully            open: RHS N77A Lower (inside) surface: When opening: RHS            N83B Fully open: RHS N77A.        -   Sepals.—        -   Arrangement.—Calyx star-shaped with four sepals fused at the            base.        -   Length.—2.6 cm.        -   Width.—0.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Slightly cuspidate.        -   Base.—Attenuate, fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper (outside) and lower (inside) surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; satiny.        -   Color.—Upper (outside) surface: When opening: RHS 45A Fully            opened RHS 45B Lower (inside) surface: When opening: RHS 45B            Fully opened: RHS 45D.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—1.2 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.08 cm to 0.1 cm.        -   Angle.—Arching.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Sparsely pubescent.        -   Color.—Close RHS 144A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 8 Anther shape: Ellipsoidal Anther size:            About 2.0 mm by 1.0 mm Anther color: RHS 158A with            Red-Purple RHS N57B shading Pollen amount: Moderate Pollen            color: Close to RHS 155A.        -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1 per flower Pistil length: 5.0 cm Style            color: towards the base, close to RHS 155D; towards the            apex, close to RHS 54A Stigma shape: Clavate Stigma color:            RHS 49A Ovary color: RHS 144A.-   Seeds and fruits: No fruit or seed observed-   Disease and insect resistance: No disease or insect resistance    observed

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEFU 14838’ is a distinct variety of Fuchsia. ‘KLEFU14838’ isdistinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Female parent Male ParentTrait ‘KLEFU14838’ ‘2010.5’ ‘2010.11’ Plant height Short Medium MediumFlower size Small Medium Medium

‘KLEFU14838’ is most similar to the commercial Fuchsia plant‘Kiecandipu’, commercially known as Diva Rose Purple (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 15,338). Differences between the two varieties are described inTable 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial lineCharacteristic ‘KLEFU14838’ ‘Kiecandipu’ Plant height Short Medium

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Fuchsia plant named ‘KLEFU14838’ as illustrated and described herein.